From Lateef Taiwo
Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia has demanded for a retraction, apology and N5 million compensation from the publishers of New telegraph newspaper over defamatory publication.
Alia who was reacting to the said defamatory newspaper publication in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Tersoo Kula made available to journalists yesterday in Makurdi, gave publishers of the newspaper 24 hours to retract the publication with apology and as well pay N5 billion for the damages caused to the personality of the Benue governor.
It could be recalled that the online edition of the New Telegraph Newspaper had on Monday, December 11th, 2023, published a story with the caption ‘2027: Alia Joins Forces With Rotimi Amaechi – …Donates Lexus LX 600 SUV To Former Transportation Minister.
In his correspondence on the affected publication to the publisher of the newspaper, the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Benue State, Fidelis Mnyim, described the said publication as false and fabricated, insisting that it was done to demean the character of the governor and to paint him bad as someone using state funds to offer gratification and compensation for personal favours.
“The publication published online portrayed our client as unprofessional, unprincipled, unethical, and dishonorable, unreasonable and prejudiced public officer who is insensitive, indifferent, and apathetic to the plight of the Benue people and party men who supported and voted him into office as the Governor of Benue State on the platform of All Progressive Congress” the statement reads in part.
According to the chief press secretary the attorney described the publication as having a clear intent and motive to vilify, malign, denigrate, disparage and defame the governor and portray him in bad light in the eyes of reasonable members of the public, especially to incite the Benue people, members of the All Progressives Congress,APC and the general public against him.
He said the attorney general equally viewed the publication, as invidious, unpleasant, insidious, sinister and treacherous, pointing out that it has inflicted and caused grievous pains, shock, anguish, psychological torture and trauma, humiliation, degradation, dishonor, embarrassment and dehumanization to the governor as well as reviling and holding him up to public obloquy, lowering him in the estimation of the public, and exposing him to disgrace, dishonour and contempt.
The chief press secretary also stated that the attorney general has insisted that the publication was done in total disregard for the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists and is injurious to the person of the governor and the government of the state, especially as the governor is someone who is seen as a noble man of sound character, who commands respect in his spheres of influence, among the citizens of Benue State and the general public, warning the newspaper house to take note that if the demands of the governor are not met within the period, he would be left with no other choice rather than to seek redress in a court of law.
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